The central sector of Imperial Citadel
of Thang Long – Ha Noi covers area of 20ha, includes archaeological
area at 18 Hoang Dieu Street and relics in Ha Noi Citadel such as: Bac
Mon, Doan Mon, Hau Lau, stone dragons in Kinh Thien Palace, dragon
house, house D67 and Ha Noi flag tower. These relics are surrounded by 4
streets: Phan Dinh Phung Street in the north, Dien Bien Phu Street in
the south, Nguyen Tri Phuong Street in the east and Hoang Dieu Street in
the west.

History

In 1009, Ly Cong Uan was enthroned,
founded Ly Dynasty. In July, 1010, the king promulgated Chieu Doi Do
(the royal decree) to change the capital city from Hoa Lu (Ninh Binh) to
Dai La Citadel. After transferring the capital city, Ly Cong Uan had
Citadel of Thang Long built and the citadel construction was finished in
early 1011.

The
ancient Citadel of Thang Long was encircled by three incorporated forts.
The outer fort was Kinh Thanh (Imperial City), where the general public
lived. Surrounded by the Hong, To Lich and Kim Nguu rivers, Kinh Thanh
acted as a dyke system for the capital city. The second fort (the middle
ring) was Hoang Thanh (Imperial Citadel), where the royal court,
offices and residence of mandarins were located. The smallest and most
inner enclosure was Tu Cam Thanh (Forbidden City) where the king, queens
and concubines lived in seclusion. The Citadel of Thang Long was
repaired and had many new works in Tran Dynasty and expanded in Le So
Dynasty. From 1516 to 1788 in dynasties of Mac and Le Trung Hung, the
Citadel of Thang Long was destroyed many times. In early 1789, King
Quang Trung transferred the capital city to Phu Xuan, the Citadel of
Thang Long only acted as Bac Thanh (the northern defensive
fortification). In Nguyen Dynasty, the remainders of the Imperial
Citadel of Thang Long were transferred to Phu Xuan for building new
citadel. Only Kinh Thien Palace and Hau Lau were retained to be
accommodations for Kings Nguyen during their business trips to the Bac
Thanh. In 1805, King Gia Long ordered the demolition of walls
surrounding the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long and requested the
building of a new, smaller citadel called Ha Noi Citadel with
architectural style of Vauban (France). In 1831, King Minh Mang changed
name of the Citadel of Thang Long to Ha Noi Province in a big
administrative reform. When French colonists occupied all Indochina,
they chose Ha Noi as the capital of French Indochina Union and the Ha
Noi Citadel was destroyed to build military camp for French colonists.
Since the Vietnamese army took the control of the capital city in 1954,
the Ha Noi Citadel has become the headquarters of the Ministry of
Defense. The
first value of the central sector of Imperial Citadel of Thang Long –
Ha Noi shows that it is nearly a book displaying over 10 century-
history of Thang Long – Ha Noi from Dai La Citadel in Pre-Thang Long
period to nowadays.

Archaeological value

History revealed that Imperial Citadel
of Thang Long changed a lot but its centre, especially Forbidden City,
remained nearly unchanged. As architectural structures inside the
Imperial Citadel were rebuilt and upgraded several times, this explained
for the findings of layers of architectural vestiges and artefacts at
archaeological site at 18 Hoang Dieu. These vestiges reflect clearly
relation between urban project and architectural space as well as
succession of dynasties in building the Citadel of Thang Long. This is
the unique and prominent value of the central sector of Imperial Citadel
of Thang Long – Ha Noi. Here, archaeologists excavated a great deal of
porcelain and ceramic wares used in the Imperial Citadel through various
stages of development. The findings paved the way for researchers to
study ceramics made in Thang Long and ceramic wares used in the Imperial
Citadel of Thang Long through different dynasties. It is also concrete
evidence about high development level of economy and culture. In
addition, porcelains and bronze coins of China, Japan, Western Asia…
found here proved that Thang Long was centre of cultural exchange among
countries in area and received quintessence values of humanity

At 20h30 on July 30, 2010 in Brasilia Capital of
Brazil, World Heritage Committee of UNESCO recognized the central sector
of Imperial Citadel of Thang Long – Ha Noi as world cultural heritage
based on three prominent criterions: historical and cultural length; its
continuousness as a power centre; diversification and plenty of
vestiges and artifacts. In opening ceremony of the 1000th
anniversary of Thang Long – Ha Noi on October 1, 2010, Ms Irina Bokova –
General Director of UNESCO gave certification of the central sector of
Imperial Citadel of Thang Long – Ha Noi to leaders of Ha Noi City.